Floribunda rose plant named ‘WEKzazou’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of  Floribunda  rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of orangey gold suffused with pink coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety Denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKzazou’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Floribunda Rose.It has as its seed parent the variety known as ‘ORAsoglo’ (not patented)and as its pollen parent the variety known as Distant Drums (notpatented).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its very doubleflowers of orangey gold suffused with pink coloration, its excellentcolor stability throughout the life of the flowers and its moderatefruity and spice with hints of cinnamon fragrance. The plant has anupright moderately spreading growing habit, suitable for outdoor gardendecoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKzazou’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘ORAsoglo’ bythe following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKzazou’ bearsvery double flowers (about 36 to 72 petals) of orangey gold suffusedwith pink coloration, ‘ORAsoglo’ bears double flowers of medium yellowcoloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 30 to 40 petals).The new variety has an upright moderately spreading medium heightgrowing habit (about 95 to about 140 cm. in height), whereas the seedparent has an upright significantly taller growing habit (about 120 toabout 185 cm. in height).

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, DistantDrums by the following combination of characteristics: whereas‘WEKzazou’ bears very double flowers (about 36 to 72 petals) of orangeygold suffused with pink coloration, Distant Drums bears double flowersof tan-mauve blend coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about40 petals). The new variety has flowers with moderate fruity and spicewith hints of cinnamon fragrance, whereas the pollen parent has flowerswith strong anise and myrrh fragrance.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘WEKscemala’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,076) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKzazou’ bears verydouble flowers (about 36 to 72 petals) of orangey gold suffused withpink coloration, ‘WEKscemala’ bears double flowers of yellow blushedorange-red coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 22 to 27petals). The new variety has flowers with moderate fruity and spice withhints of cinnamon fragrance, whereas the closest commercially availablecultivar has flowers with a slight tea fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif.in the month of November. Throughout this specification, colorreferences and/or values are based upon The Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society (1966) except where common terms of colordefinition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of November.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers singly, sometimes in clustersof two to six or more per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular roundedclusters on strong somewhat short to medium length stems (about 18 toabout 42 cm.). The cluster ranges from about 11.5 to about 15.5 cm. indiameter. Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a moderate fruity and spicewith hints of cinnamon fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 1.9 to about 5.6 cm. in length, of moderatelyheavy caliper (about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm. in diameter), and usuallyerect. It is entirely smooth, with few hairs. Peduncle color is between144A and 146D.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.1 to about 1.5 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.4 to about 2.1 cm. in length, andpointed to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears between10 to 15 foliaceous appendages and few hairs, usually with slenderentire to sometimes much cut foliaceous parts extending beyond the tipof the bud about ¼ or more of its length. Bud color is between 137C and146D often heavily suffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun,with between 187B and 187A.

The sepals are 5 per flower, about 1.8 to about 3.5 cm. in length andabout 0.8 to about 1.2 cm. in width at the widest point. The outersurface color of the sepal is between 137C and 146D often heavilysuffused, especially on the side exposed to the sun, with between 187Band 187A. The outer surface of the sepal is smooth and bears between 0to 8 foliaceous appendages with few hairs. The inner surface color ofthe sepal is near 146D broadly bordered by near 137C. After the sepalsopen, the inner surface color is often heavily suffused, especially onthe area exposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B. The innersurface of the sepal is covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal marginsare entire and lined with few stipitate glands and many hairs. Thesepals are moderately permanent, and usually straight in shape withacute apices.

The receptacle of the flower is of medium length (about 0.5 to about 1.1cm.) and moderately heavy in caliper (about 0.9 to about 1.4 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is urn-shaped in form. Its surface is smoothwith few hairs and with somewhat thin fleshy walls. The receptacle coloris between 144A and 146D.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.1 toabout 2.2 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 3.4cm. in length, and pointed to somewhat ovoid in form. The color of theunder surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 22A and 18A oftenheavily blushed on the outermost petals with between 53B and 53D to asdark as between 53A and 187B. At the point where the petal attaches,there is a somewhat large zone of between 150B and 151D. The color ofthe upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 22A and 16Busually moderately suffused with between 53A and 53B. At the point wherethe petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of between 150B and154A.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 6.9 to about 10.8 cm. indiameter. Petalage is very double with about 36 to 72 petals and about13 to 47 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloomform is somewhat high centered to cupped, and the petals are moderatelytightly spiraled to cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals areloosely cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces moderately satiny and under surfaces slightly shinyto matte. The petals are about 3.0 to about 5.3 cm. in length and about1.4 to about 4.6 cm. in width at the widest point. Petal margins areentire.

The outer petals are moderately obovate to somewhat rounded in shapewith rounded apices.

The inner petals are moderately oblanceolate to somewhat obovate inshape with rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 0.6 to about 3.7 cm. in length and about 0.3 toabout 2.5 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped moderately oblanceolate to somewhat obovate to subulate withrounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 16C and 22C. There is no visible change in coloration at thepoint where the petal attaches. The upper surface color of the outer,intermediate and inner petals is between 15B and 16B usually moderatelysuffused with between 53B and 53D. There is no visible change incoloration at the point where the petal attaches.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 15B and 16Busually moderately suffused with between 53B and 53D.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 10B and 22C. There is no visible change in coloration at thepoint where the petal attaches. The upper surface color of the outer,intermediate and inner petals is between 8B and 16B usually moderatelysuffused with between 60C and 53D to as dark as between 60A and 60B.There is no visible change in coloration at the point where the petalattaches.

The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 8B and 16Busually moderately suffused with between 60C and 53D to as dark asbetween 60A and 60B.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In November in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 125) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of medium to somewhat long length (about 0.4 to about 1.4cm.) most with anthers. Filaments are between 16B and 15C in colorusually heavily suffused with between 60A and 53B. The anthers aremoderately small for the class and all open approximately at the sametime. Anther color when immature is near 20A on the external part andnear 8D on the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near 164C onthe external part and near 200A on the internal part. Pollen is moderateand between 18B and 19C in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 105). The styles are moderatelyuneven, short to average in length (about 0.2 to about 0.6 cm.),somewhat thin to average in caliper, and loosely bunched to somewhatseparated. Stigma color is between 20C and 19B. Style color is between2D and 4D usually heavily suffused with between 187C and 187B. Ovariesare usually all enclosed in the calyx. The ovaries are of small size andbetween 158B and 158C in color.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Pomona, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 9.7 to about13.8 cm. in length and about 8.0 to about 11.8 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture on bothsides, and glossy in finish on the upper side and somewhat semi-glossyin finish on the under side. The leaves have a pinnate venation pattern.The terminal leaflets are about 4.4 to about 6.8 cm. in length and about2.6 to about 4.2 cm. in width at the widest point, shaped ovate withacute apices and rounded bases. Their margins are usually simplyserrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 139A and 147A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 146A. Theunder and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are similarin coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the mature leaf.The upper surface color of the-young leaf is between 137B and 146A,often heavily suffused with near 187B. The undersurface color of theyoung leaf is between 139C and 138B, often heavily suffused with between187B and 187C. The under and upper colors of the leaf veins on the youngleaf are similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors ofthe young leaf.

The rachis is about 5.5 to about 7.8 cm. in length, about 0.1 to about0.15 cm in width at the widest point, and moderately rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with few hairs and stipitate glands on the edgesof the grooves. The under side of the rachis is moderately rough withfew stipitate glands and small prickles. The rachis color is near 146Don the underside and near 137B on the upper side, often heavily suffusedon the young leaves with between 187B and 187C.

The stipules are about 1.4 to about 2.5 cm. in length and of mediumwidth (about 0.4 to about 0.6 cm.) with medium length straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The under andupper surface color of the stipule is between 137B and 137C. The upperand under surfaces of the stipules are smooth in texture.

The petiole is somewhat light to average in caliper and moderatelyrough. The upper side is deeply grooved with few hairs and stipitateglands on the edges of the grooves. The under side of the petiole ismoderately rough with few stipitate glands and small prickles. Thepetiole is about 0.7 to about 1.3 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about0.15 cm in width at the widest point. The petiole color is near 146D onthe underside and near 137B on the upper side, often heavily suffused onthe young leaves with between 187B and 187C.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew(Sphaerotheca pannosa), downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa) and rust(Phragmidium sp.) as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has an upright moderately spreading medium height growinghabit (about 95 to about 140 cm. in height and about 122 to about 176cm. spread at the widest point), with full branching. It displaysmoderately vigorous growth and the canes are of medium caliper for theclass (about 1.5 to about 2.0 cm. in diameter at the widest point).

The color of the major stems is between 146A and 146B. The major stemsare rough in texture and they bear many large prickles that are about1.1 to about 1.8 cm. in length. The large prickles are angled slightlydownward with a long narrow oval base; prickle color is between 165B and164A often lightly suffused with near 201C. The major stem bears somesmall prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146A and 146B. The branches arerough in texture and they bear some large prickles which are of similarshape to the large prickles on the major stems. The prickles are about0.6 to about 0.8 cm. in length. Prickle color is between 152B and 152Coften lightly suffused with between 187C and 187D. The branches bearsome small prickles of similar shape and coloration with sometimes fewstipitate glands.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 146A often lightlysuffused with between 187C and 187B. The new shoots are rough in textureand they bear some large prickles which are of similar size and shape tothe large prickles on the branches; prickle color is between 152B and152C often moderately suffused with between 187C and 187D. The shootsbear some small prickles of similar shape and coloration with sometimesfew stipitate glands.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.